Multibipolar radiofrequency vs single needle microwave ablation for the treatment of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patient cohort (n = 362) used for analysis of secondary outcomes and the nodules cohort (n = 436) used to assess local tumor progression, n (%)

Characteristics	Patients (n = 362)			Nodules (n = 436)
	MWA (n = 120)	Mbp-RFA (n = 242)	P value	MWA (n = 147)	Mbp-RFA (n = 289)	P value
Age in years (IQR)	65.52 (59.1-71.7)	66.33 (59.3-72.2)	P = 0.81
Male	97 (80.8)	211 (87.2)	P = 0.11
Cirrhosis	117 (97.5)	226 (93.4)	P = 0.1
Cirrhosis aetiologies
Viral hepatitis	19 (15.8)	44 (18.2)	P = 0.91
NASH	23 (19.2)	44 (18.2)
Alcoholic	41 (34.2)	74 (30.6)
Other/mixed	20 (16.7)	39 (16.1)
Child Pugh
Child Pugh A	99 (82.5)	211 (87.2)	P = 0.23
Child Pugh B	21 (17.5)	31 (12.8)
Platelet count
< 100 G/L	47 (39.2)	82 (33.9)	P = 0.32
≥ 100 G/L	73 (60.8)	160 (66.1)
AFP
< 10 ng/mL	86 (71.7)	159 (65.7)	P = 0.39
10-100 ng/mL	27 (22.5)	60 (24.8)
> 100 ng/mL	7 (5.8)	23 (9.5)
Number of nodules treated per patient	1.41	1.34	P = 0.16
Histological proof	41 (34.2)	198 (81.8)	P < 0.005
Size
< 20mm				69 (46.9)	93 (32.2)	P < 0.001
20-30 mm				55 (37.4)	108 (37.4)
≥ 30 mm				23 (15.6)	88 (30.4)
Tumour near large vessel				20 (13.6)	36 (12.5)	P = 0.735
Subcapsular tumour				74 (50.3)	167 (57.8)	P = 0.139
Proximity to the gallbladder				4 (2.7)	18 (6.2)	P = 0.114
Segmental portal thrombosis				0	3 (1)	P = 0.554
Operator experience (months)				107 (38-360)	303 (105-331)	P = 0.026
Guidance modality
By ultrasound alone				49 (33.3)	288 (99.7)	P < 0.001
By scanner alone				7 (4.8)	1 (0.3)
Mixed guidance (ultrasound + scanner)				91 (61.9)	0
Nodules treated per center						P < 0.001
Institution A				35 (23.8)	289 (100)
Institution B				112 (76.2)	0 (0)

Mbp-RFA: Multibipolar radiofrequency ablation; MWA: Microwave ablation; IQR: Interquartile range; NASH: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.